Tech freshman doesn't eat like a Bird

Published: Wednesday, August 15, 2007

DON WILLIAMSAVALANCHE-JOURNAL

To understand why Bront Bird has been one of the most impressive newcomers in Texas Tech's freshman football class, it's necessary to get up early and see what he scarfed down for breakfast this summer.

Jodi Miller / Staff
Texas Tech's Bront Bird (19) helps up running back Kobey Lewis (21) after a play during practice Tuesday afternoon.
Order a print

Twelve eggs, two bowls of oatmeal and a protein shake.

Then he'd eat again two hours later. And again two hours later. And so on.

His meal plan was to eat six times a day, 1,000 calories at a time.

You wouldn't want to be the guy who buys his groceries.

"Oh yeah, my dad was spending 200 dollars a week,'' Bird said, "but it was worth it to him.''

Jodi Miller / Staff

Texas Tech's Bront Bird (19) helps up running back Kobey Lewis (21) after a play during practice Tuesday afternoon.

Order a print

Bird weighed 175 pounds when he started his junior year in high school at Odessa Permian and 200 at the start of last season. Now he's 6-foot-4 and 235 pounds - the size coaches covet for a strong-side linebacker. During the first week of camp, Tech defensive coordinator Lyle Setencich said Bird reminds him of Scott Fujita, a 6-5, 250-pound New Orleans Saints linebacker that he coached in college.

Bird has a chance to play this season, on special teams and possibly the defensive package.

"He's going to be huge before it's all over,'' Tech coach Mike Leach said. "He's been very impressive. His adaptability is probably his single most impressive thing. He's one of those guys that came here a little bigger than we expected, a little faster than we expected, a little smarter than we expected and a lot more adaptable.''

Leach said his attitude and enthusiasm have been good, too.

"You could literally ask him to do anything, and he'd be fired up to do it is the impression I get,'' Leach said. "I think he's a good example, not just to the younger guys but some of the older guys, too.''

Bird said the man behind his physical transformation is another former Permian and Tech player, Jason May, who happens to be a family friend.

Bird said he still tries to eat a lot of what's good for him, but in camp he hasn't found time to consume six meals a day.

"It was rough, believe me,'' he said. "It takes a while to get used to eating that much, because at the beginning I was like, 'Oh, I cannot do this.' ''

Bird's game wasn't hurting beforehand. Permian went 9-4 last season, advancing to the Class 5A Division I regional semifinals. Bird was credited with 73 tackles, seven behind the line, three interceptions and three fumble recoveries. (As a wide receiver, he caught 45 passes for 824 yards and eight touchdowns.)

The Panthers played him at strong safety, although Bird rolled down near the line of scrimmage in some coverages and lined up in the box in others.

Bird said he's been looking up to May for years. He still has one of May's double-T helmet decals on his bedroom wall at home. May, a Tech lineman from 1997 through 2001, was plagued by knee problems for much of his career, but was healthy enough to start 10 games at right tackle his senior year.

Back then, it was a much smaller Bront Bird who used to greet May after games.

"I remember after the game I got to go down there and get his sticker off his helmet,'' Bird said. "That was a big deal for me when I was a young kid.''